NPMHU Local 317 - Alabama
Official Site of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 317. Postal News for NPMHU 317 members. We consist of branches in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Montgomery.
"Do you want a mailbox that will stand out in your neighbourhood? "
Reference: theownerbuildernetwork.co
"...The United States Postal Service is warning of a scam involving text messages that ask for information regarding a package delivery. According to the Postal Service, these types of text messages are a scam called smishing, a form of phishing that involves a text message or phone number. Victims will typically receive a deceptive text message that is intended to lure the recipient into providing their personal or financial information, the Postal Service warned...."
Reference: www.kwtx.com
"USPS and the Postal Inspection Service provided an update this week on their Project Safe Delivery campaign to crack down on postal crimes and attacks on postal employees.
Multiple USPS departments are working on the campaign, which was announced in May.
“As our nation continues to address a sustained crime wave, our targeted focus to crack down on postal crime is progressing,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. “The safety of our letter carriers — and all postal employees — is our top priority. We will continue to work steadfastly with our law enforcement partners to increase the safety of our employees and protect the sanctity of the nation’s mail.”
“We have effectively focused our efforts with USPS on hardening both physical and digital targets to combat threats to postal employees and secure the mail,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale. “We continue to turn up the pressure and put potential perpetrators on notice: If you attack postal employees, steal the mail or commit other postal crimes, postal inspectors will bring you to justice.”
Under Project Safe Delivery, USPS and the Inspection Service have:...
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"The transition from disability to retirement is a scary one for Social Security recipients. ...The biggest concern that those receiving Social Security disability have about reaching full retirement age is that their benefit amounts might go down. The reason has to do with the way that disability and retirement benefits are calculated. Specifically, in determining how much you receive in disability benefits, Social Security takes a look at your average lifetime earnings during the period before your disability began. ...A special rule for early retirees Interestingly, there's a special rule that applies for those who become disabled and then apply for early retirement benefits under Social Security. If you became disabled, started collecting early retirement, and then had your disability application approved by the SSA, then you'll continue receiving your Social Security retirement payments, but you'll also get disability benefits that are enough to bring you to the full amount of the monthly payment you're entitled to receive. Moreover, when you reach full retirement age, you'll receive full retirement benefits as if you had never filed for early retirement benefits."
Reference: www.fool.com
"Federal employees and retirees share of 2024 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) premiums will increase — on average — by 7.7% according to the Office of Personnel Management...."
Reference: www.myfederalretirement.com
...the Federal Retirement Fairness Act (FRFA), legislation to address a gap for federal employees who began their careers as temporary workers and were thus unable to make retirement contributions. The FRFA will allow these workers to make catch-up contributions to ensure they can retire as planned. In the absence of this provision, many face an unfair choice: exit the federal service without complete retirement benefits or delay retirement to achieve full benefits. Before 1989, the Office of Personnel Management permitted federal employees to make catch-up payments, enabling them to compensate for years they didn’t contribute to their retirement accounts. However, this provision was eliminated when the government transitioned to a new federal employee retirement system. ...
Reference: house.gov
The Postal Service is reminding facility managers to check the condition of their POW-MIA flags before Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
The upcoming observance is also a good time to check the condition of U.S. flags and the poles that they fly from.
USPS facilities are required to display the POW-MIA flag along with the U.S. flag.
The flags should be checked for wearing, tearing and fading.
When a flag is unsuitable for display, it is time to replace it. Tattered flags should not be flown.
Flag poles should be structurally sound, free of rust or corrosion, properly anchored, and able to hoist and lower the flag quickly and effectively.
If a facility’s flagpole needs repair, the manager should submit a work order for maintenance promptly.
The USPS Administrative Support Manual has additional guidelines on U.S. flag display, maintenance, and ordering replacement flags.
"...In a surprise announcement, postal management has invoked a targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER), limited to the Newark, NJ geographic area, with no monetary incentive and limited to employees in particular crafts and jobs. “The union is deeply disturbed that this announcement was made with virtually no advance notification to the APWU, either at the national level or with the local union leaders in the impacted facilities,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “This lack of communication, lack of opportunity for the union to negotiate over these changes and the scope of this VER, what crafts are eligible and whether there should be monetary incentives is outrageous. Their disrespect for the union and postal workers, and their refusal to bargain, has been met with immediate demands for bargaining, information requests, unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB and will be followed up with appropriate grievances.” ..."
Reference: apwu.org
USPS has notified the Postal Regulatory Commission of mailing services price changes to take effect Jan. 21, 2024.
The proposed adjustments, approved by the governors of the Postal Service, would raise mailing services product prices approximately 2 percent.
The proposed changes include:
• Letters (1 ounce): 66 cents (current), 68 cents (planned)
• Letters (metered 1 ounce): 63 cents (current), 64 cents (planned)
• Domestic postcards: 51 cents (current), 53 cents (planned)
• International postcards: $1.50 (current), $1.55 (planned)
• International letters (1 ounce): $1.50 (current), $1.55 (planned)
The additional-ounce price remains unchanged at 24 cents.
The Postal Service is also seeking price adjustments for Special Services products, including Certified Mail, PO Box rental fees, money order fees and the cost to purchase insurance when mailing an item.
Because operating expenses fueled by inflation continue to rise and the effects of a previously defective pricing model are still being felt, the price adjustments are needed to provide the Postal Service with much-needed revenue to achieve the financial stability sought by its Delivering for America 10-year plan.
Even with the changes, the Postal Service’s prices remain among the most affordable in the world.
The complete USPS price filing can be found on the commission’s website. Price tables are also available on the Postal Explorer website.
The Postal Service’s Oct. 6 news release has additional information.
Postal Items Found on Amazon Today "...Postal related items found on Amazon. Books, toys, signs, clothing, stamp collecting, ......
